Machine for assembling knock-down container



A ril 12, 1938.

E. N. LOWRY MACHI NE FOR ASSEMBLING KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINERS Filed March 6, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR.

ATTORNEYfi April 12, 1938. E, LQWRY 2,113,699

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINERS zz/M I'NVENTOR. I W0V ATTORNEYS.

April 12, 1938. E. N. LOWRY 2,113,699

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINERS Filed March 6, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 12, 1938 LINER Edward N. Lowry, Syracuse, N. Y., asaignor to Osvvego Falls Corporation, Fulton, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 8, 1936, Serial N0. 87,514 v 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for securing a closure into the end of a container, and more particularly the invention relates to a machine for securing an end closure to a container formed with. a fibrous tubular barrel.

' An object of the invention is a machine of thea minimum expenditure of time, and so sealed asto form a liquid tight container. I

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describingthis invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. J t

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the container assembling machinewith the container support shifted to bring the end of the container in operative relationship to Y the crimping mechanism.

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing the container support shifted in position to receive a container, or permit the removal of the container.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing the crimping mils and the contiguous portion of the container barreLwith a reinforcing ring being-applied'to one end of the barrel.

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, illustrating the operation of the machine in scoring a bottom closure in'one end of the barrel, 9. reinforcing ring having been previously applied to the oppositeend of the barrel.

4 Figure 5 is a view taken on finest-4, Figure 2;.

Figure 6 is'an enlarged," fragmentary, sectiona1 view of the crimping rolls and contiguous portion of the container barrel and end bottom closure.

The general object of this invention is to provide, a machine of simplified construction and of economical operation, to seal an end closure to the body or barrel of a paper container of the knock-down or collapsible type.

At the present time, paper containers are being used extensively for products heretofore merchandised in metallic containers, such for example as ice-cream. It is a matter of common 'knowledge that for many years the ice-cream t5 manufacturer has shipped the bulk ice-cream in heavy metallic containers which are placed in the refrigerating cabinets of soda fountains and the like, and after they have been emptied they are collectedby the manufacturer, returnedto the plant, washed, sterilized, and again refilled. 5 These heavy metallic cans'are costly in the instance, and are costly to handle because of their weight. Also, the cost of gathering up the empty canaretumlnB them to'the 'planhwashing them, sterilizing etc.,-all add to the costof 1. merchandising the product. The-paper contaia ers are extremely cheap invinitial cost, are of negligible weight, and when empty can .be and immediately discarded by the retailer burning, or otherwise, which materially 1| .the handling cost of the productand also avoids the objection of the accumulation of empty. metallic containers which, in warm weather, become rancid and emit an offensive odor. This is particularly a problem for the corner imam and the like in'large cities wherethey do not have available space to store a number of empty containers.

In order that the paper container may be entirely satisfactory for thispurpose, it must be of a the knock-down or collapsible type. That is. the body of the container is shipped in a hat folded condition and the end closures shipped separately. It then becomes necessary for the manuiacturer to expand thecollapsed barrel, secure one end closure as a bottom to the barrel, container and subsequently attach the other and closure in the nature of a cover. Due to the factvthat the ice-cream, or other. manufacturer-is not familiar with the business of fabricating con- 'tainers, it is most important that" means be provided whereby these end closures may be ly'and efliciently sealed to the container without the aid of large or expensive machinery. 8M0! machines requiring the services of a skilled 4o operator.

' The machine herein described operates to socure and seal the bottom'closure to the container. and. as mentioned above, the general object is a machine of low-initial cost and one'which may 45 be operated by anyone, and whereby the bottom closure may be sealed e'ifectively to the tubular paper barrel with the minimum con-.- sumption of time. i I g As here shown, the machine comprises a base so it which is preferably of cast metal, and is of inverted cup-shape in cross section, a plurality of supporting posts ll extend upwardly from the base and support at their upper ends a head I! on which is suitably mounted-a motor II lilit b I6 connected to the seaming rolls l4, II, to impart a rotary motion thereto.

Referring to Figure 1, the motor I3 is mounted upon a stool l8 and is provided with an integral gear reduction and angular drive [1. However, the motor may be of any suitable construction and mounted upon the head l2 in any desired manner.

The head I2 is substantially circular in form and provided with four spaced apart radially ex tending bosses l8 to receive the upper ends of two of the supporting rods II. The head I 2 is also provided with a pair of spaced apart rearwardly extending projections 19 which are also provided with bosses l9 to receive the upper ends of the rear supporting posts II.

The seaming roller I4 is secured to the lower end of a vertically arranged shaft 20 journalled in a housing 2| detachably secured to the upper surface of the head l2 as by means of cap screws 22. The upper end of the shaft 20 is connected to the driven shaft of the motor drive H, as at 23. A gear 25 is secured to the shaft 20 in the upper portion of the housing 2| and meshes with a gear 28 secured to the upper end of shaft 21 which is journalled in a housing 28 which is pivoted at its upper end to the housing 2|, as at 29. The gears 25,- 26 are of such width and are so arranged that the teeth of the gears remain in mesh during a limited pivotal movement of the housing 28 about the pivot 29, as indicated in Figure 2. The seaming roller i5 is secured to the lower end of the shaft 21 and rotatable therewith.

From the description thus far, it will be apparent that the seaming rollers l4, l5, are rotatably mounted in the head l2 in such manner that the roller l5 may be moved toward and from the roller H in an arcuate movement about the pivot 29, and constant rotation is imparted to the seaming rolls l4, l5, by the motor ii.

The upper surfaceof the head I2 is formed with a circular aperture 30 to receive the seaming roll l4. The head is also provided with an annular depending flange 3|. The rear portion 32 of the flange 3|, extending rearwardly from the bosses I8, is of greater depth than the front portion of the flange, and the head and flange portion 32, adjacent the aperture 31% is cut away to provide an opening 33 to permit the seaming roll I5 to be moved radially inwardly toward the seaming roll I 4. The under side 01' the head is provided with an annular groove 34 substantially semi-circular in cross section, and arranged with the outer side of the groove merging with the inner face 35 of the flange 3|. The inner face 35 of 'the flange 3| is preferably tapered outwardly and downwardly. The rear portion 32 of the flange 3| is provided with an inwardly extending rib 38 the inner surface of the rib 38 being formed on an are having a radius substantially equal to that of the center of the groove 34. The rib 38 extends through an arc of substantially 180.

The housing 28 is normallymaintained in its outer position, that is, with the seaming, roll I! spaced apart from the seaming roll l4 by a helical compression spring 38 inserted between the rear portion 32 of the flange 3| and the depending rear .wall 39 of housing 28. The housing is moved about the pivot 29 toward the seaming roll l4 by arcuate movement of the lever 40 which is pivoted at 4| between the rearwardly extending portions IQ of the head l2. The free end of the lever 40 is provided with a roller 42 which coacts with the rear wall of the housing 28. Preferably, a flat spring member 43 is secured to the rear wall of the housing 28 as at 44, and is provided at its lower end with a cam surface 45. The lever 40 is operated about the pivot 4| by a link 48. Downward movement of the link 46 effects clockwise movement of the lever 40, and the roller 42 contacting the cam surface causes the lower end of the housing 28 to swing inwardly moving the outer seaming roll l5 radially inwardly toward the seaming roll l4.

It is to be understood that the paper barrel B is initially formed with lengthwise extending corrugations and is shipped in folded or collapsed condition. At the packers plant, the collapsed barrel is removed from the shipping carton and expanded into tubular form. A metallic reinforcing ring 49 is attached to one end of the container barrel and subsequently the bottom closure is secured in the opposite end of the barrel. The metallic ring 49 is U-shaped in general cross section having an outwardly flaring flange to overlap the end or edge of the barrel and which is subsequently crimped into engagement with the outer surface of the barrel presenting a neat bead around the end of the barrel. The inside of the ring is considerably longer, and the lower edge is tapered inwardly against the inner surface of the barrel.

The closure unit consists, in this instance, of a fibrous or paper disk 41 formed with an annular flange 48 extending substantially at right angles to the discoidal portion 41. The bottom closure is secured to the barrel by a ring identical with the ring 49. The ring 49 and the closure disk 41 are preliminarily attached together with the sides of the ring being spaced apart sufflciently to receive the end of the barrel. This closure unit is placed upon the end of the barrel, and the barrel and closure are elevated into the head l2, whereupon the closure is pressed into the end of the barrel with the flange of the ring overlapping the edge of the barrel, and thisring is subsequently crimped or seamed into tight contact with the end of. the barrel by action of the seaming rollers. l4, IS. The closure may be of any suitable structure provided with an outwardly flaring flange to overlap the end of the barrel, and which flange is subsequently seamed or crimped into engagement with the end of the barrel.

I will now proceed to describe the mechanism for supporting the barrel and closure, pressing the closure into the end of the barrel, effecting the crimping of the metallic ring and the removal of the barrel from the machine. The base I. is

' provided with an elongated aperture 88. g A cam block 8| is secured to the under side of the base as by cap screws 52. This cam block BI is provided with a cam track 53. The upper surface of the base I0 is provided with a pair of suitable upstanding bosses 84 which are located to the rear of the base. A link 88 is pivoted atone end between the bosses 84, as at 88, and at its other end it ispivoted to one end of the link 81, as at 88. The other end of the link 51 is pivoted to link 59', as at 60. The link 59 at its opposite end is pivoted to the T-shaped' link 8| as at 82. The

link 8| is pivoted to a bracket 83 depending from with a vertical slot'88 to permit operation of the lever 88 about the pivot 88.

The end of the link 81. adjacent to the pivot 88,

is provided with a bore extending substantially at right angles to the lengthwise axis of the link 81. A rod I8'is mounted in this bore of the link 81, and is provided at one side with a notch to receive the pivot pin 88, whereby the rod 18 is held from axial movement relative to the bore in the link 81. The lower end of the rod 18 is provided with a roller II which is arranged to travel in the track 88 of cam block 8|. The rod '18 carries means for supporting the tubular barrel while the end closure is being pushed into the end of the, barrel, and while the closure is being secured to the barrel.

I8 designates a hollow conical member formed with a hub I8 at its small end,'andwith a plurality of radially'extending spokes 11 at the base, the joinder of the spokes constituting a hub. The hub 18 labored to slidably receive, the rod 18. A collar 18 is secured to the rod I8 by a pin "I8 and a sleeve 88 is threaded thereon, see Figure 1. The sleeve 88 is formed with an upwardly extending semi-circular portion 8| in the inner surface of which is formed a rectangular recess lar 18. The sleeve 88, when adjusted, is held in boss I8 to receive a bushing 84.

cated in the recess'82, the bushing 84 inserted position by a set screw 88;. The hub of the spoke 11 is bored concentrically with the bore of the A ring 88 is 10- er with the collar I8 may be then slid over the up-' per end of the rod 18. The upper end of the bushing 84 is provided with a collar overlappingv thehub of the support member, and -a helical compression spring 88 is interposed between the upper hub 18 and the bushing 84. When the collar I8 is secured to the rod 18 by means of pins 18, the support I8 is carried by the compression spring 88. That is, the compression spring 88 moves the support 18 upwardly until the hub in the base portion contacts the shoulder on top of the bushing 84.

i It will be observed, referring to Figure 1, that there is a slight clearance between the bottom of the support I8 and the top of the upper portion 8| of the sleeve 88. The support 18 is thus resiliently mounted upon the rod 18 to have a slight axial movement downward relatively thereto. A disk 88 is fixed to the upper end of the rod 18 and is substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the tubular barrel B. The conical surface of the support I8 terminates at the botledge to hold the barrel while the closure is be-.

ing secured thereon.

It will be observed that the T-shaped link 8| is also connected to the rod 48 whichactuates the rear movable roller housing 28 toward and from the seaming roll l4. The lower'end of the rod 48 is pivotally connected to one arm of an angle lever 88, the other arm of which is pivotally connected to the link 84, the opposite end of which is connected to the T-shaped link 8|, at 88.

Referring to Figure 2, it willbe observed that when the pedal end of the lever 88 is in up position, the rod I8 is swung outwardly to the front and the rod ,48 is elevated. In this position, the barrel B is expanded into tubular form and passed over the disk. 88 and, downwardly until the lower edge of the barrel seats upon the shoulder 8| of the support 18. The support I8 is preferably of conical formation to aid in directing the lower edge of'the barrel to a position concentric with the rod 18 and the disk 88. After the barrel B has been thus placed on the support 18 with the upper edge projecting slightly above the top surface of the disk 88, a closure unit is placed upon the top edge of the barrel. The operator then steps upon the pedal end ofjthe lever 88 pushing it downwardly andthis movement through links 88, 8|, 88, imparts an arcuate movement of the link 81 about the pivot 88. and also an arcuate movement of the pivot 88 about the pivot 88. When thedevice is in the position shown in Figure 2, the roller 1 at the lower end ofthe support rod I8, is seated against an arcuate cam surface 81 formed on a portion of the cam block 8|. Inasmuch as the rod I8 is iixedor se- During the first movement of the foot lever 88,

the rod 18 is simply swung about the pivot 88 bringing the top end of the barrel 3 into contact with the rib 88 formed on the under side of the head. This rib acts as a guidefor the upper end of the barrel, and at this time the roller 'II is in the cam track 88, and also at this time the rod 48 has been moved downwardly so that the roller 42 assumes a position near the. cam surface 48 on the rear of the housing 28. Further downward movement of the foot lever 88 eflects vertical elevation of the rod 18, and of course the support 18, disk 88 and the barrel B. This move ment brings the-upper edge of the ring 48 into the recess 34 formed on the under side of the head, and continued upward movement results in pressing the closure into the end of the-barrel B, at which time it rests against the upper surface of the disk 88. By this time, when the closure has been pressed home, the roller 42 has engaged the cam surface 48 and caused the lower end of rear housing 28 to swing inwardly about the pivot 28. The inner seaming roll I4 is located eccentric to and tangent with the recess 84, that is the rear side of the roller I4 is in alinement with the recess 84, as clearly shown in Figure 5. Or, in other words, when the closure has been pushed home with the ring 28 in the recess 84, the rear side of the inner seaming roll l4 is'in engagea vertical ment with the inner surface or flange of the ririg As previously'stated, the housing 28 has been moved'radially inwardly toward'the axis of the roller l4 which results in pressing the edge of the roller l8 into contact with the outer side of the U-shaped ring 48, and inasmuch as these rollers are revolving, rotary motion is imparted to the barrel B. support 18 and disk 88, and the outer side of the ring 49 is seamed, or rolled over the upper end of the barrel in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. It only takes one second for the seaming operation to be complated, at which time the operator removes his foot from the-pedal 66, the container shaft 10, support 15, and disk 90 descend vertically, and at the same time the rear housing 28 is instantly released, permitting the outer seaming roll l5 to move away from the upper end of the container. Upon further downward movement, the roller 1| passes out of the cam track 53 and engages the cam surface 91, whereupon these parts assume the position shown in Figure 2, and in which position the container, with the closure firmly secured in the end thereof, may be readily removed by lifting it upwardly over the disk 90.

The container barrels are cut to a uniform length, depending upon the capacity of the container. However, inasmuch as they are generally formed of paper stock, they expand or contract more or less in length, due to atmospheric conditions, temperature, etc. To provide for this situation, the barrel support 15 is carried upon the compression spring 88, and the parts are so arranged with a slight clearance between the-bottom of the support I! and the upper end of the sleeve 80. Accordingly, if the container barrel has become. moist and increased slightly in length, it will not be buckled or otherwise damaged when the operator forces the closure up into the groove ll. To accommodate a smaller size container, the rod III is provided with a hole 98 to which the collar 18, sleeve 80 and support I! may be moved by removing the pin 18 and again inserting it into the hole 98. Also, to accommodate any slight variation in the diameter of the closure, because of variation in thickness of material, or otherwise, the cam block is mounted upon the flat spring member 43, the lower end of which is connected directly to the outer end of the compression spring 38. With this arrangement, a substantially uniform pressure is obtained between the seaming rolls I, I5, regardless of slight variations in the diameter of the closure.

I desire to point out the particularly economical operation of this container assembling machine, it being kept in mind that this machine is located in the plant of the producer, such as the ice-cream manufacturer, who is not familiar with the fabrication of containers. With this machine, it is only necessary to sleeve the expanded barrel over the disk 98 and set it upon the support 15, place the closure unit on the top of the barrel, and simply Press the outer end of the pedal 86 downwardly. By this one operation, the barrel is moved into proper place, the closure is pressed into the end of the barrel, and

the metallic ring crimped firmly uniting the closure with the barrel.

What I claim is:

l. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a container barrel comprising a suitable frame, a stationary head supported by the frame, a pair of crimping rolls rotatably journailed in the head, means for eflecting rotation of said rolls, means operable to move the container barrel in juxtaposition to said head with the closure engaging the head, and to bring; the crimping rolls into engagement with the peripheral margin of the closure to crimp the same about the end of the barrel.

2. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a container barrel comprising a suitable frame, a stationary head supported by the frame, a pair of crimping rolls rotatably Journalled in the head, means for effecting rotation of said rolls, a support for the container barrel carried by the frame and being movable toward and from the head, means operable to move said support toward the head, with the end closure in engagement with the head, and to bring the crimping rolls into engagement with the peripheral margin of the closure to crimp the same about the end of the barrel.

3. A machine for securing an end closure having an outwardly flaring circumferential marginal flange to the end of a container barrel com prising a suitable frame, a head carried by the frame, a pair of crimping rolls rotatably journailed in said head, means for effecting rotation of said rolls, a container barrel support pivotally mounted on the frame and movable about said pivot to bring the container barrel into axial alinement with said head, and means operable to move said support and container barrel in axial alinement with said head, and to move said support and container barreltoward the head with the and closure engaging the head, and to bring the crimping rolls into engagement with the peripheral margin of the closure to crimp the same about the end of the barrel.

4. A machine for securing an end closure having an outwardly flaring circumferential flange to the end of a container barrel comprising a suitable frame, a head carried by the frame, and a pair of crimping rolls rotatably journalled in said head, means for eflecting rotation of said rolls, a container barrel support pivotally mounted on the frame, said support being normally positioned to permit'the container barrel and the end closure to be placed thereon, and being movable into axial alinement with said head and toward said head to press the end closure into the barrel, means for moving said support about its pivot and axially of said head to bring the closure into engagement with the head, and to bring -the crimping rolls into engagement with the marginal flange of the closure to crimp the same about the end of the barrel.

5. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a container barrel comprising a suitable frame, a stationary head supported bythe frame, a pair of crimping rolls rotatably journalled in said head, means for effecting rotation of said rolls, a container support movably mounted on said frame, and when in inoperative position adapted to receive the container barrel and closure, and when in operative position pressing the closure against the head, means operable to shift the container support from inoperative to operative position, and to bring the crimping rolls into engagement with. the peripheral margin of the closure to crimp the same about the end of the barrel.

6. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a container barrel comprising a suitable frsme, a stationary head carried by the frame, a pair of crimping rolls rotatably journalled in the head, means for effecting rotation of said rolls, one of said rolls being movable toward and from the other, a support for the container barrel, and closure means operable to move said support into juxtaposition to said head, with the closure engaging the head and the peripheral margin of the head arranged between the crimping rolls, and means for moving the movable crimping roll into engagement with the peripheral margin of the closure to crimp the same about the end of the barrel.

'7. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a container barrel comprising a frame, a stationary head carried by the frame, a container barrel support shiftable to bring the end closure into engagement with the head, a pair of crimping rolls rotatably journalled in said head and arranged to engage the inner and outer sides of the closure margin, means for effecting rotation of said crimping rolls, means for shifting said support and for effecting relative movement between the seaming rolls to crimp the margin of the closure about the end of the barrel.

8. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a barrel comprising a frame, a stationary head carried by the frame, a container barrel support shiftable to bring the end closure into engagement with the head, a seaming roll rotatably journalled in the head and arranged to engage the inner surface of themargin ofthe closure when the same is in engagement with the head, and a complemental seaming roll rotatably mounted in the head and being movable toward and from said first roll to engage the outer surface of the margin of the closure to crimp the same over the end of the barrel, means for effecting rotation of said rolls, and means operable to shift the container barrel support and to move the outer seaming roll into engagement with the end closure.

9. A machine for securing an end closure to a container barrel comprising a frame, a head carried by the frame, a seaming roll rotatably journalled in the head, a housing carried by the head and being movable toward and from said roll, a

complemental seaming roll rotatably journalled in said housing, means for effecting rotation of said rolls, a container barrel support being shiftable to bring the container barrel and the closure into engagement with the head, with the peripheral margin of the closure arranged between said crimping rolls, means operable to shift said sup port and to move said housing toward the said first crimping roll to effect crimping of the mar gin of the closure about the end of the barrel.

10. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a container barrel comprising a base, a head supported by said base in spaced apart relation thereto, a container support pivotally mounted on the base and operable to bring the container barrel and closure in axial alignment with said head, and being movable toward said head to bring vthe and closure into engagement with said head, means for effecting rotation of said rolls, a pair of crimping rolls carried by the head, a pedal carried by the base, and motion transmitting means between said pedal and the container support to shift said support into axial alinement with the head, and to move said support toward the head, and motion transmitting connections between said pedal and the crimping rolls to bring said rolls into engagement with the peripheral margin of the closure when the same is in engagement with the head to crimp said marginabout the end of the barrel.

11. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a container barrel comprising a suitable frame, a stationary head supported by the frame and being formed with a circular recess to receive the peripheral edge of the end closure, a pair of crimping rollers rotatably journalled in said head, means for efiecting rotation of said rollers, one of said rollers being arranged within said recess and the other roller outside of said recess, a support for the container barrel carried by the frame and being movable toward and from the head, means operable to move said support toward the head with the end closure arranged in said recess and to bring the crimping rolls into engagement with the peripheral margin of the end closure to crimp the same about the end of the barrel.

12. A machine for securing an end closure to the end of a container barrel comprising a suitable frame, a stationary head carried by the frame, a pair of crimping rollers rotatably journalled in the head, means for effecting rotation of said rollers, means operable to move the container barrel with the closure thereon into juxtaposition to said head with the closure engaging the head, said head being provided with means for guiding the periphery of the closure between said rollers, and means operable to bring the crimping rollers into engagement with the periphery of said closure and crimp the same about the end of the barrel.

EDWARD N. LOWRY. 

